Bush due to report to cops

| 18/03/2013

(CNS): The former premier of the Cayman Islands is expected to answer his bail on Tuesday in connection with his arrest in December. McKeeva Bush was bailed in February after the police said that the investigations had widened and they were making enquiries overseas. The veteran politician has persistently denied doing anything illegal and has made it clear he expects to be charged before the election as a result of a conspiracy against him but he will fight the wrongful allegations and is confident of exoneration. Meanwhile, his former political colleague Rolston Anglin is listed for sentencing tomorrow in traffic court in connection with his DUI conviction, but the minister is currently in Brazil.

Bush, who was arrested at his West Bay home in December on suspicion of theft and several offences under the anti-corruption law, was questioned by police for two days in connection with accusations relating to the misuse of a government credit card and his involvement with an imported consignment of dynamite without the correct paperwork.
The director of the company, which was fined in Summary Court last year over the shipment, intended for blasting at a Bodden Town quarry to fulfill a contract with Dart, was also arrested shortly after Bush. Suresh Prasad, who is a close friend of the former premier, is also expected to answer police bail Tuesday.

Alongside the allegations of theft in relation to the government credit card and Bush’s involvement with the dynamite shipment, the police are still investigating allegations that have been made about Bush in connection with a questionable demand for payment to Stan Thomas in 2004. In a now infamous faxed letter to the US developer, Bush, who was the leader of government business at the time, appeared to be soliciting payment for the re-zoning of land in the West Bay Road area, which was then owned by Thomas but has since been bought by Dart.    

In addition, it is understood that there could be at least two more probes surrounding the former premier that police are continuing to investigate in relation to accusations of corruption.

Since his arrest and the first two days of questioning, Bush returned to the police in February but he was immediately re-bailed to appear again on 19 March. The police said that enquiries were on-going and that the probe now included locations in Europe, the United States and in Asia. Continuing to deny any wrongdoing, Bush has been arrested on suspicion of certain offences but he has not been charged with any crime.

Bush’s former Cabinet and UDP colleague, Rolston Anglin, the education minister and deputy premier, who is dealing with legal difficulties of his own, is scheduled to be sentenced in Summary Court tomorrow. However, despite being listed to appear, the ministerwho also has responsibility for financial services, is in Brazil at a hedge fund conference and so will be a no show at his hearing.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    For crying out loud, Mac, it's over!

  2. Anonymous says:

    I think that since the PPM boneheads are always complaining of others going on business trips I want them to tell us that if elected they will conduct business through email, Skype or telephone only. I will be asking this from now until elections. It was ok when Chuckie took his trips to Las Vegas and all over as well as Alden. It’s just wrong when anybody else does it right? PPM are such country bumpkins!

    • Anonymous says:

      Some business travel is required, but I think the PPM will stay away from the casinos and massage parlours

    • Anonymous says:

      And they are hypocrites as well, a year from now the new leader will travel just as much is not more and people will hate the new leader that same way the hate the current ones and complain just as much, because that all most people know who to do..  

    • Anonymous says:

      No politician in the history of Cayman has spent anything remotely approaching the amount  spent on travel that McKeeva Bush and Juliana O'Connor-Connolly have. Period. 

  3. Anonymous says:

    I see your point but what about Bush..

  4. Anonymous says:

    Rolston should have an arrest warrant today for not showing to court. When he is arrested, his passport should be taken and kept this time until his case is dealt with.

    • Anonymous says:

      I totally agree; and since the PPM is confident that they will form the next government comes May, I hope the first order of the pay is to leave no stone unturn in ensuring that Syed is found, brought back and prosecuted; after all he was there making.

      • Anonymous says:

        If that is your primary concern why didn't you demand that years ago? Why only if the PPM are elected to govt.? Are the elected govt. in control of the police? 

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree, he should be charged with contempt of court and fined for wasting the courts time. We ordinary people would not get away with this. If he was truly sorry, he would turn up in court to face the music. No vote from me for Rolston. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I attended a Convocation function at UCCI on 9th March 2013 at which Rolston Anglin was guest/keynote speaker. He arrived late, after both the National Anthem and the National Song but he didn't seem to care and I didn't detect any attempt by him to apologise to the President, the other distinguished guests, or anyone else present. Then he made a speech to the students, who were being honoured for achieving exceptional grades. I'm not sure though he can teach them anything, except how not to treat other people. 

    • J Salasi I. -111? says:

      Y’all people live in wonderland. Is the offense a murder charge, is it a fraudulent charge, no there are cases where you can be represented by your attorney. O ye of so much foolishness in ona head. The day coming when your fo foolishness will ruin this country even more.

      Bless Jah

    • Anonymous says:

      OK so I am confused by so many of you saying how Rolston should be arrested etc. BEFORE he has failed to appear in court TOMORROW (not today).  I think either my eyesight is failing or the article clearly says he is due in court for sentencing TOMORROW!

      • Anonymous says:

        Read the fine print. The original post was added on Monday saying they were due in court on Tuesday. Then all the posts stating he should be arrested "today", were added on Tuesday, which makes "today", "tomorrow".

    • Anonymous says:

      Well that did not happen. I hope that the fine levied in addition to the driving ban is equal to the cost of the car and driver that no doubt he will use for the remainder of his term.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Anyone who fails to appear before the court when summonded, is guilty of an offense, contempt of court I think it is, and an arrest warrant is issued. I don't expect anything less from our court system no matter who the defendant or what thr eason for not appearing. You and I can't say "I couldn't attend court your honor because I was off island on business". Arrest should be made upon returning to the island at the airport. Lets see what happens shall we?

    • Anonymous says:

      My elderly mother in law was told she would be arrested when she couldn't turn up for jury duty because she was sick. Rolston can go off on a jaunt to South America instead of manning up and appearing in court. Something is very wrong with the system or the people supposedly implementing it in Cayman. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe he's gone MIA in Brazil with Misick…cos nobody heard of Misick since.

  6. Baldric says:

    He wanted the cops reporting to HIM but this other way round sound more sensible.

  7. Anonymous says:

     

    If you ask me and yes I know nobody has. This all just reminds me of a modern day witch hunt with people screaming bloody murder simply because they do not like Mr Bush. The desire here is to bring him down by any means necessary. People do not care if he is guilty or not it seems that they would act actually be OK with this even if he didn’t break the law people would like to see him destroyed and jailed. The same goes for  Anglin, he pleaded guilty we all know that and he will get punished for his mistake but want to see him destroyed simply because of hatred not because any kind of desire for Justice. People may as well be storming the castle with burning stakes..

     

    I actually find it amazing how much confidence people are placing on the RCIPS’ word on this when they have a history of false accusations and failed investigations that have been unwarranted and ended up costing the Caymanian people millions.  And as far as the opposition goes their true motivation on this should be obvious, even a blind man could see that they mainly wanted him out of office.

     

    He may be guilt or he may not be but people are already ready to stone him to death before anything has been proven. That is what you call a Witch Hunt and I certainly hope none of you find yourselves on the other end of that situation one day.

    • Anonymous says:

      Difference is Anglin was charged and convicted. He is a convicted criminal

      • Anonymous says:

        Point Taken..

      • philip says:

        drink driving for the moment is a traffic offence ,  this would not lead to a criminal record.

      • Anonymous says:

        Although very serious, DUI is currently considered a mere traffic offense in the Cayman Islands Justice system.  Sentencing is tomorrow and will likely be the minimum 12 month suspension (from date of infraction/arrest).  So effectively, only a matter of weeks left in his prohibition from driving and he'll be good to go again.  That's just the way it is.

        • Anonymous says:

          No its not – his ban will start from when he is sentenced in court

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, unless they changed the law in the past few weeks, he is not a criminal.  He has pled guilty to a traffic offence.  Not a shining example for our youth, but he has not been charged with a criminal offence, although lying to the police is normally charged as such.

      • Anonymous says:

        You say that Anglin is a convicted criminal; then that put him in the same boat as Kenneth Bryan, right or wrong?

      • Anonymous says:

        Last I knew, "Driving under the influence of alcohol" is an offence under the Traffic Law and therefore it's a traffic violation and not a criminal offence – as per the Penal Code.  

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm sorry but XXXX.  Just because you're a leader of a democracy doesn't mean you can act as dictator.  Bush has cost the island millions:  his trips and those of his cabinet, breaking the GLF port-deal with NOTHING to show for it (no one can locate the surveys, etc. that we supposedley bought), picking and choosing churches to get money, employing 10 park rangers that made over $500,000!, and finally the ForCayman deal which has caused a huge amount of controversy in regards to the closure of West Bay road.  It is clear that no one in government could stand up to him (except, maybe the independents) and were willing to fight against his XXXX.  Maybe this is a wich-hunt but at least he is out of power XXXXX

       

      If Cayman wants to be considered a first-world country, their leaders need to act like it.  No back-room deals, no hidden contracts, no putting your buddies in office. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Your comment just proves my point, while I agree with everything you say. None of this has anything to do with these investigations, arrests and whether he is guilty or not.  Which is why I say people would have no problem if he was being falsely accused basically because they do not like him and this in itself is wrong no matter how bad of a premier he was..

      • M says:

        Its not just in Government that this happens its all over. I think they teach it at school here.

    • Anonymous says:

      I totally agree. This is a Witch Hunt and it is a disgrace that someone who has worked hard all his life to serve the people is being treated this way. After 3 1/2 years of investigation, interrogation for 2 daysand still No Charges, time to call it what it is a Witch Hunt to destroy Mr. Bush.

      • Anonymous says:

        The main issue here is the fact that we employ cheap labour, the RCIP is filled with so called officers who has proven time and time again to be uneducated (try reading a statement written by one of them), incompetent and are only here for one reason and one reason only!! the Cayman Islands dollars !!!!!!! as long as they can get paid, send their money home to fatten their bank accounts they really couldn't give two hoots about a decent days work.  Half the time, they just cannot be bothered.  Get rid of them and recruit officers with good standing with good track records and who come highly recommended.  My suggestion would refrain from hiring any more Jamaicans to work as police officers.  I had a break in at my place recently and the officer who showed up to "investigate" was more concerned with my large flat screen tv and the fact that I am a beautiful, single independent woman.  I haven't heard back regarding the break in but I did get a call asking personal questions, to which I responded advising him that his questions was in no way related to the case and I was not interested in him personally.  Out of order and not very unattractive.

    • Dreadlock Holmes says:

      It seems to me Mr. Bush and Mr. Anglin are being treated by the RCIPS as any other citizens. And it is they… Mr. Bush and Mr. Anglin who are using their public offices wrongly.  In having access to their political podiums it is they and not the public who are making a mockery of these serious charges.  There is on the public's behalf only a desire to have the charges dealt with without political rhetoric. The more they attempt to do this… the more they appear to hold themselves above the law.  That and nothing else as you have stated pisses people off….There is no "witch hunt".

      • Anonymous says:

         

        And there you have it as the point I was trying to make, you say serious charges, but there actually have not been any charges filed againstBush after years and years of investigations. The one thing that this has done is destroy his political career which quite possibly in my opinion could have been the intention all along..

      • P A Rody says:

        It was the same way with OJ Simpson, we was innocent!

    • Anonymous says:

      Read the Stan Thomas letter that he signed and sent.  Be honest with yourself and ask yourself what the money he demanded was for. 

      • Anonymous says:

        I have read the letter as I am sure everyone else has. It is a letter demanding payment other than that I cannot be sure as it still has not be proven that he has done anything illegal and I am not a judge or jury and neither are you. But this is actually beside the point that Human rights dictate that a person is innocent until proven guilty. The point I was trying to make is that this Bush Hunt is all about people hatred for Bush not about him breaking the law. And in my opinion it is not outside of the range of possibility that the RCIPS will just add this to their list BS investigations that ruined people lives and cost us millions.  

        And speaking of the letter you mentioned, those accusations had nothing to do with his recent arrest and it still baffles me that those investigations are still going on after so many years..  

        • Anonymous says:

          “It still bafflles me that those investigations are still going on after so many years”. That really doesn’t have to baffle anyone with a brain in their head my friend. It is very clearly what happens when too much power gets into the wrong hands. You or me would have served our jail term by now. God help Cayman . And please help our people to wake up.

      • Anonymous says:

        It was on behalf of me, Olde Joe.  Me not so smart.

    • Anonymous says:

      We are praying for Mack. Cayman seems to be the best place to destroy peoples character. Most of the time through jealousy.

  8. Rolston says:

    Why is it this man thinks he can get away with anything? How much Caymanian money did he waste by lying to the police THREE times, waiting one year to plead guilty, and then showing total disrespect to our Courts by not even showing up for sentancing! It’s a total disgrace. And what of his lovely wife and the mystery woman that “escaped”? He should resign today. ZERO morals.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I hope they are ready to charge him and not bail him for another 2 months.

    • Anonymous says:

      What if they cant charge him? What if the evidence does not match up every thing they accused him of? How far are they willing to go? I hope he gets a fair trial cause if he doesnt…. GOD HELP US ALL… You could be next 

      • Anonymous says:

        This is the point about this whole thing that nobody seems to get..

  10. Anonymous says:

    This country is a joke.

    Rolston should get arrested the moment he gets back here. Like anyone else . . . . .

  11. Anonymous says:

    Who was the lady in the car with Rolston?

    Is he obstructing justice by failiing to answer that question?

    • Anonymous says:

      He was arrested for DUI and pled guilty.  As much as the island gossips would like to know who she was how could it possibly be "obstructing justice"?  What difference does it make to the DUI charge? None whatsoever.

      • Anonymous says:

        OK. Past tense. He obstructed justice. D you think that pleading guilty later on removed that offence?  

        • Anonymous says:

          People plead guilty to lesser charges or get deals all the time in court in exchange for leniency or to avoid Jail time, this is no difference outside of the fact that so many people have been manipulated into hating the UDP or hate them for their own reasons that they are all screaming bloody murder and want to see them burn for whatever reason it is justified or not.

      • Makes a big difference says:

        Maybe he could say he was distracted instead of drunk when he crashed. 

      • Anonymous says:

        She is/was a witness, wasn't she?

      • Anonymous says:

        He changed his story and wasted police time.  These are what we call "bad things".  Good, moral, honest people don't do such "bad things".  Nor do they drive drunk with or without a mystery woman passenger.  But then staying in office after doing these "bad things" is what we call "an even worse thing".  People who do "bad things" and "even worse things" are not fit for public office in my world.

    • Anonymous says:

      She was a ghost I tell ya. I heard ghosts like to be taken back to familiar spots when they were alive so Rollie just offered her a ride to a safe place.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Get rid the garbage Mr . Baines! !

    Braca

  13. Anonymous says:

    For failing to appear for sentence is Mr Anglin not liable to be held in Contempt of Court?

  14. SKEPTICAL says:

    Whatever the public perception of bush as an individual, or a public figure, the RCIPS have to bring some closure to this matter. If there are no charges brought against him which can be proved in Court, then Cayman will descend into chaos in May, the RCIPS will never be able to restore it’s credibility as an investigative force, and Government will be looking at possibly the biggest legal action ever for defamation of character.
    My decision about bush as a person was made a long time ago, but in the event that he is not found guilty of any misdemeanours, it is irrelevant.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who said anything about "misdemeanors"? Regardless of what the legal system produces our opinions of our politicians are not irrelevant.

  15. Anonymous says:

    No show, been a no show for the last 12 years!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. CYNICAL says:

    Is it not possible that Rolston Anglin is ” In contempt of Court ” for arranging a trip to Brazil, when he knew he was due to appear in Court for sentencing on a charge to which he has pleaded “Guilty”. It would be nice to hear that there was an Arrest Warrant awaiting him on his arrival back in Cayman. These are the sort of things which would warrant the replacement of the Pineapple on our Coat of Arms, with a pair of crossed Bananas.

  17. UK should be ashamed says:

    This whole process is a disgrace. The Uk should be ashamed. To arrest and not charge for 4 months is a totsl exercise in judicial abuse. Every Caymanian should be up in arms about due process. We can only hope and pray the UK stops this nonsense tomorrow and issues a formal apology to the Honerable former Premier.

    • Anonymous says:

      How was this "judicial abuse" exactly? There are many persons who arrested for substantial  periods of time while investigations continue before they are formally charged. Nothing strange or abusive about that.

      It is McKeeva who should be apologising to the people of the Cayman Islands for bringing us to shame and disgrace.  

    • Anonymous says:

      The investigations have to take time, there may well be some long trails, and if there are, they are no doubt well hidden, that is, presuming that the rather blatent land rezoning letter is an isolated case!

  18. SKEPTICAL says:

    How convenient that Rolo happens to be off-island on the day of his sentencing – hopefully he can be sentenced ” in absentia “. Otherwise we are looking at the old mantra – ” justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done “. Usually that would apply to a defendant who had not been brought to trial within a reasonable period of time – in this case it is a question of – ” Why the Hell has it taken so long for the Court to announce the terms of his sentence “. He eventually pleaded “Guilty” – so it is now only a matter of quantifying his punishment. Or is there some extra-judicial reason for this criminal offence not to be concluded.

    • Caymanian Voter says:

      For blatantly missing his trial and planning to be absent during sentencing the judge should throw the book at him!
      This is a citizen (no matter what the power or position) Thumbing his nose at our entire judicial system.

      The judge really should sentence the harshest time in jail possible. There is no excuse for going off to a business conference instead of facing the courts.

      Leniency in sentencing is given due to remorse And clearly not a shred of that is being shown here.

      Let those who are crying witchhunt think for a moment that this man could’ve killed a family member of yours he was drunk and driving! A serious crime.

  19. Anonymous says:

    I am sure that he will rebailed and rebailed until well after the election at which point the lawsuit for false arrest will start no different the tempura, I wonder how much they will settle this for to get him to retire early. Doesn't make much difference to the UK folks since it's the Caymanian people that will pay for it..

  20. Anonymous says:

    Just charge him please RCIPS…get him off the streets and out of our ears.

    If you have nothing else there must be an offense such as "continually bullsh*tting in a built up area" or even a noise pollution offence? Or possibly the obscene offense of making normal people want to puke everytime they see him? Please….anything will do…

    • Anonymous says:

      Sad to see so much hatred, but such hatred always comes back to you many times over. Judging by the yours, I certainly hope it does.

      • Anonymous says:

        Sad to see so much bad interpretation and understanding…no anger, just the facts Ma'am, nothing but the facts.

    • Anonymous says:

      Really?!!!???  Did I just read a citizen asking the RCIP to arrest the man on a trumped up charge? NOW THATS NOISE POLLUTION-  Be careful what you wish for – they just might come charge you

  21. Anonymous says:

    disgracefull all around….